In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Tony Hunt explained that two men, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), could be found guilty of murder if they were part of a joint enterprise that intended to kill or cause serious harm, and if one of them used a weapon to fatally wound 22‑year‑old Muhamud Ilyas during a dispute over a stolen cannabis bag. The judge noted that if one participant exceeded the agreed plan, only that person would be guilty of murder. He also clarified that a verdict of manslaughter could be reached if the jury found no intent to kill, or if the death resulted from an unlawful assault without intent. The judge further addressed the case of Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who faced charges of impeding the arrest of Doroscan and Clejan, and explained the evidential requirements for conviction. Viorel Doroscan pleaded not guilty. Otniel Richardo Clejan pleaded not guilty.
Conor Stewart, 31, pleaded guilty on 26 May 2024 to making an unwarranted demand with menace, threatening the parents of his former partner that their house would "go up like a Christmas tree" if a €4,000 debt was not paid. Garda Aaron Carney testified that Stewart called the house in Sandyford, where the father opened the door and saw Stewart on his phone, with a third party apparently directing him. The incident was recorded by a doorbell camera. Stewart, who has 84 prior convictions and was on bail for another offence, admitted he was in difficulty and had been told to do it. He has signed up for drug counselling while in custody. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to two years and three months, with nine months suspended for two years, to run consecutively to his current sentence, and ordered 12 months of probation supervision after release.
Conor Stewart, 29, of Kilcross Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and possession of a samurai sword after a €50 drug debt dispute. On 18 June 2020 at Kilcross Grove, Stewart left a van, armed with a samurai sword, and attacked a man who had been carrying an adjustable wrench. The victim sustained a cut to the back of the head and a larger wound to the side of the head, requiring stitches, and later fully recovered. Stewart's prior convictions include criminal damage and burglary. The court accepted his guilty plea as valuable, noting reconciliation between Stewart and the victim's brother, and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the weapon used and the potential for future offending if Stewart does not change. The sentence reflects the court's view that Stewart's guilty plea and the circumstances warranted a custodial term of four years.
Amy McAuley, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of using a false instrument by submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and forging a medical report on November 23, 2022. Additionally, McAuley entered guilty pleas to five counts of theft and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime on separate dates between November 2015 and May 2023. The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed her 2015 sentence of two years, suspended for 10 years, for stealing nearly €111,000 from a former employer, citing undue leniency. The Court of Appeal declined to alter the sentence but extended the repayment period to seven-and-a-half years. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation next week.
Ifeanyichukwu Nwaneri, 37, of Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of four counts of money laundering for the period February to October 2017. He pleaded not guilty but admitted in Garda interviews that he had handed his bank accounts to another man for use in a larger laundering scheme. The accounts were used to lodge €34,918, €17,109 and €10,000, with an additional €7,000 bounced back. Nwaneri allowed further lodgements into a second account after the first was frozen. Judge Elva Duffy noted his accounting studies should have given him some awareness of the activity. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The case involved Innocent Aigbekaen, who recruited Nwaneri and was sentenced to four years, three of which were suspended. Nwaneri had no prior convictions and had been in Ireland since 2015.
Jim Connors, 30, pleaded guilty in the District Court to assault a Circle K worker with a wine bottle on Christmas Eve, 2021. The assault, described by the judge as "terrifying," occurred after Connors tried to steal three bottles of wine at a Circle K on Enniskerry Road, Kilternan. He was arrested after fleeing the scene. The case also included other 2021‑22 charges: theft, a public‑order offence and failure to produce a driving licence, for which he received a four‑year disqualification. Connors has 55 prior convictions, including traffic offences, burglary, public‑order violations and theft. On appeal, Judge Catherine White increased the original custody sentence from three to six months but suspended the jail term for 12 months, conditional on Connors staying away from the Kilternan Circle K. The defence counsel, Lydia Daly BL, argued only the severity of the sentence was appealed.
A 45‑year‑old woman from Tymon North Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin 24, is due to be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to a series of theft and deception offences that spanned from December 2022 to October 2024. She stole cosmetics, clothing and toiletries worth between €60 and €270 at several locations, including Penneys on O'Connell Street, Arnotts, Citywest Shopping Centre and a Spar outlet in the Village Green. In one incident she was stopped after taking two suitcases worth €90 from Penneys, and in another she stole €150 worth of cosmetics. All items were recovered in saleable condition. The most recent offence occurred on 10 October 2024 when Gardaí were called to Spar; she became abusive and was arrested for theft and deception under Section 4(3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. An active bench warrant was executed during her court appearance that day.
A 22-year-old woman from Athlone with a history of 19 bench warrants has been refused bail at Tallaght District Court. Janelle Quinn, currently of no fixed abode, faces charges including theft, public order offences and criminal damage. She was arrested on foot of two active warrants and made no reply when cautioned. During the hearing, Judge Catherine Ghent expressed concern about the accused's presentation and condition, noting apparent withdrawal symptoms. Her barrister submitted that Ms Quinn was undergoing detoxification and willing to engage with the process, including daily signing at Athlone Garda Station. However, gardaí objected, citing her pattern of failing to appear. The judge stated serious reservations about whether Ms Quinn would return to court if released, despite acknowledging the charges were not of the most serious nature. She noted the accused required medical attention. Ms Quinn was remanded in custody for one week to reappear on 13 May. Legal aid was granted.
A 35‑year‑old man accused of two attacks on his former partner was refused bail by Judge Catherine Ghent at Tallaght District Court. The man is charged with two counts of assault causing harm, alleged to have bitten the woman's forehead, strangled her, pulled her hair and head‑butted her nose in separate incidents in April and July 2024. The victim sustained a broken nose; hospital records and photographs were presented as evidence. She reported the assaults after receiving support from counselling services and Women's Aid, citing a controlling relationship as a reason for the delay. Garda Sarah Cullinane objected to bail on grounds of the seriousness of the offences and potential witness interference. Defence solicitor Michael Hennessey denied the allegations and offered strict bail conditions, but the judge cited grave concerns for the victim's safety and refused bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act.
The High Court has opened a civil case brought by the Irish Banking Resolution Corporation (IBRC) against former Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) chief executive Michael Fingleton. IBRC alleges that Mr Fingleton negligently mismanaged the society for decades, specifically regarding five property loans approved between 2006 and 2008. While IBRC estimates total property loan losses at €6 billion, it is currently pursuing €250 million in damages related to these specific loans. Mr Fingleton, who is 87 and in ill health, denies the allegations of negligent mismanagement. He is acting through his wife, Eileen Fingleton, and son, Michael Fingleton Jnr, under powers of attorney. Counsel for IBRC argued that Mr Fingleton engaged in speculative property gambles, often approving loans before board review and without adequate safeguards or independent valuations. The court heard that INBS shifted heavily toward commercial lending, a move warned against by the financial regulator. The proceedings, originally initiated in 2012, finally opened before Mr Justice Michael Quinn. The case is expected to last up to eight weeks. Mr Fingleton's son has stated that his father's assets are limited to €25,000 in bank accounts, despite outstanding judgment debts exceeding €10.7 million.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Lorenzo Cantaragiu, 21, was defended by Michael Lynn SC who argued that Cantaragiu was terrified when he drove alleged murderers Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) from west Dublin to an isolated area where the victim, Muhamud Ilyas, was later found dead. Lynn said Cantaragiu believed he was at risk, had been threatened by the co‑accused, and had no way to escape. He claimed Cantaragiu told Gardaí he was shaking, had been beaten before, and feared for his family. Cantaragiu faces four charges of impeding prosecution or apprehension, having pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleges the two men fatally assaulted Ilyas after a dispute over a stolen cannabis bag on 9 December 2022. Ilyas died from blunt‑force head trauma. The case is set for jury deliberation tomorrow.
An 18‑year‑old Dubliner, who was a minor when he appeared before the courts, was convicted of violent disorder in the melee that led to the death of steakhouse assassin Tristan Sherry. He has now pleaded guilty to a drugs offence, admitting possession of diamorphine for sale or supply on 8 May 2024 at Tolka Valley Park, Dublin 15. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a side‑by‑side shotgun, cannabis and 630 g of phenacetin, offences that were linked to drug trafficking on 7 May 2024. Fiona Murphy SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said one of the 15 charges would be dropped at a later hearing and asked the court to consider the remainder when sentencing. Justice Karen O'Connor ordered a probation report and adjourned the sentencing to 18 June. The teenager remains awaiting sentence for the violent disorder offence that occurred at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve 2023.
Patricia Ducie, 50, of Gardiner Street Lower, Mountjoy, Dublin 1, had pleaded guilty in the District Court to 22 charges, including 12 thefts, four possession of stolen property, five failures to appear after bail, and one possession of an article intended for theft. The District Court, on 18 March 2025, imposed an 18‑month sentence with two months suspended. On appeal, the court noted Ducie's 182 previous convictions and the specific incidents: a €1,100 theft of liquor from a Tesco in Celbridge on 27 January, arrests with a man in a bush, and two separate thefts of €132 and €100 worth of chocolates from Butlers Chocolates Cafes. Other thefts involved Evoke, Marks & Spencer and Tribe stores. The appeals court, hearing arguments from defence counsel Seosaimhin Ni Chathasaigh BL, suspended 12 months of the 18‑month term, leaving Ducie with a 6‑month custodial sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the court was told that Kasonga Mbuyi, 52, who stabbed a German passenger at Dublin Airport, was acting out in a "cry for help". Mbuyi had been seen behaving erratically and was not wearing shoes. He had a paranoid delusion and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, with a history of cannabis misuse. He had been arrested on September 17, 2023, for assault causing harm and production of a pen knife. The victim suffered eight superficial wounds and required 12 stitches. Mbuyi had been homeless, living in a hostel after his Limerick accommodation was sold, and had recently been treated for a broken foot and dislocated knee. He accepted responsibility and said he was trying to get help. The case was adjourned to July, with a probation report, governor's report and urine analysis to be prepared.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan warned David O'Callaghan, 41, that any repeat offence would lead to prison. O'Callaghan, who suffered a paranoid delusion and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, had driven a white Ford Transit van into the gates of Leinster House, The Custom House and Aras An Uachtaráin, causing over €60,000 in damage. He pleaded guilty to driving into the rear gates of Leinster House and two counts of criminal damage on 2 August 2024. The judge imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspended on strict conditions, including 21 months of Probation Service supervision. O'Callaghan was told he must comply with the Probation Service and that any repeat offence would bring him back before the court. The court noted his 11 previous convictions, including drug offences, and his ongoing psychiatric treatment. The case was adjourned for finalisation of the suspended sentence conditions.
A former Donegal GAA player will not serve additional prison time following an unsuccessful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Court of Appeal. Kevin McMenamin, aged 43, from Letterkenny, was convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after striking a cyclist with a heavy goods vehicle in Dublin in July 2021. He was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment in January 2024 and disqualified from driving for five years. McMenamin had been released from custody in October 2024 after nine months, having been transferred to an open prison following enhanced remission application. The DPP argued the sentence was unduly lenient given McMenamin's 33 previous convictions, including multiple drink-driving and driving-without-insurance offences, and that he was already disqualified when the incident occurred. Justice Tara Burns dismissed the appeal, finding the sentence, while lenient, was not unduly so, having regard to mitigating factors including McMenamin's guilty plea, remorse, and work history.
In May 2025 the Workplace Relations Commission awarded Thomas Farrell €1,000 after Salesforce failed to reply within the four‑week deadline for a formal remote‑work request under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. Farrell, a recruiter who had moved to the west of Ireland, had been told in June 2023 that he could work remotely and attend the office as needed. In May 2024 his line manager announced a return‑to‑office requirement of three to four days a week. Farrell filed a request on 10 June 2024 citing the unsustainability of a 550‑km daily commute, his proven remote performance and inconsistencies in Salesforce's policy. The company responded on 11 July 2024, after the deadline, and rejected the request on 26 July 2024, citing collaboration, in‑person meetings and alignment with a global hybrid strategy.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 6 May 2025, a 24‑year‑old woman faced a charge of breaching a protection order that prohibited her from contacting her former partner. The complainant, a 25‑year‑old man, alleged that the woman sent him an abusive WhatsApp message on 3 January, which he had shown to Gardaí and printed as evidence. The woman's solicitor, Michael Hennessy, argued that the message was fabricated using Photoshop, noting that no digital record of the message existed on the defendant's phone and that the phone was water‑damaged and not examined. The prosecution, represented by Dr Seán Smith, maintained that the printed screenshot matched the complainant's phone and that no expert analysis was required. The case collapsed when Judge Patricia Cronin discovered that the charge sheet listed a different name and address, violating Order 38 of the District Court Rules, and dismissed the proceedings for lack of admissible evidence.
Lisa Lyons, a 36‑year‑old mother of four from Tallaght, appeared before Judge Michael Connellan at Tallaght District Court after a Garda search of her home on 15 November 2021. The search uncovered a handbag containing nine individual bags of cannabis (29 g) and €508 in cash. Lyons pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and unlawful possession under Section 3 of the same Act. She has six prior convictions for road‑traffic offences but no drug‑related history. Her lawyer, Ethan Foley, argued that Lyons was pressured by criminal groups to hold the drugs and had been living in fear, noting her clean record, family responsibilities, and volunteer work. The court accepted her plea and imposed a €600 fine with a seven‑month payment period, urging leniency. Lyons stated she is now a born‑again Christian and that her anxiety has improved.
Anthony Macken, a 21‑year‑old from Oakpark Avenue, Santry, appeared before Judge Michael Connellan at Tallaght District Court after admitting he had handled a stolen motorbike and was later convicted of dangerous driving. The incident occurred on 28 October 2023 on the M50 northbound at Ballymount, Dublin 24, when Garda Aaron Wogan found a damaged motorbike that had been stolen. Macken pleaded guilty to handling stolen property under Section 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and was convicted of dangerous driving under Section 53(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended by the Road Traffic (No. 2) Act 2011. He was fined €200 for handling the stolen motorbike and €50 for dangerous driving, each with a six‑month payment period, and was disqualified from driving for two years. The court heard that a probation report assessed Macken as posing a moderate risk of re‑offending.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, Judge Ronan Munro sentenced 24‑year‑old Dylan Gilligan to six and a half years in prison for carrying a firearm with intent to assault Scott Purdue on 17 December 2019. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. Gilligan, who denies any involvement, maintains he was not the shooter and claims the incident was a stand‑alone case. The judge highlighted the lack of direct evidence linking Gilligan to the shooting, noting no bullets, shell casings or recovered firearm, and that Purdue declined to give evidence. Munro emphasised Gilligan's youth and absence of a significant offending background, urging him to choose a crime‑free life upon release. The court also heard that Gilligan had been struck by a car in October, for which he is receiving rehabilitative treatment. Dylan Gilligan was convicted.
Two men, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), are accused of murdering 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas. Defence lawyers argue the accused acted in self‑defence, claiming Ilyas was the aggressor and the "prime mover". They present evidence that Ilyas was beaten and tied, with a hammer used by Clejan and a fruit knife by Doroscan. The prosecution alleges the men were drug dealers who lured Ilyas to a field where he was left in the cold. The defence maintains that the accused were not planning a murder and that Ilyas threatened them with a weapon. The trial continues with counsel for Lorenzo Cantaragiu giving his closing speech. The case is heard before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury. Viorel Doroscan pleaded not guilty. Otniel Richardo Clejan pleaded not guilty.
Space commentator David Moore abandoned a Workplace Relations Commission hearing into claims that a former manager at Astronomy Ireland breached workplace rights by "pocketing" money meant for the society. The tribunal had adjourned the case repeatedly since June 2024, and an adjudicator had criticised Moore's approach as "delay, delay, delay" and said the matter would "never be heard". Moore and a solicitor for Astronomy Ireland walked out of the hearing room after the adjudicator said he would press on, despite objections from the respondents. The claimant, Sonya Martin, had worked at the society's Ballycoolin office from 2021 to July 2023, resigned under stress, and filed complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1995. Martin alleged that Moore and other committee members were personally attached to the case and that he had taken speaking‑fee revenue for himself.
The Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing on 18 November to resentence two men who were teenagers when convicted of murder. Both were sentenced to life with a 13‑year review. The first, a 14‑year‑old who killed Mongolian national Urantsetseg Tserendorj in January 2021, was convicted of murder and is now an adult. The second, a 17‑year‑old who killed Cork student Cameron Blair in January 2020, was also convicted of murder and is now an adult. The resentencing follows a Supreme Court ruling on 13 March that trial courts lack jurisdiction to review sentences for child offenders. The Supreme Court held that life sentences for children should only be imposed in exceptional cases and that a court may impose a part‑suspended sentence. The Court of Appeal will consider the Supreme Court's principles and determine new sentences for each offender. The hearing will also address anonymity issues for the second offender. The unnamed teenager pleaded guilty.
In the Court of Appeal on 2 May 2025, Conor McGregor's lawyers presented new evidence from a woman who claimed to have witnessed Nikita Hand being assaulted by her former partner at Hand's home. The woman swore an affidavit that she saw Hand being pushed and, judging from the man's body movements, believed he had kicked her after pushing her to the ground. She had come forward after reading about the civil trial in the media and had also sent McGregor an Instagram message, though the timing was not specified. Hand, who had been awarded €248,000 in damages after a civil jury found McGregor had raped and battered her, disputed the woman's claims in her own affidavit. The Court of Appeal will cross‑examine the two proposed witnesses before allowing their evidence into McGregor's appeal, with a hearing scheduled for 1 July. The case remains focused on the credibility of the new witnesses and the alleged new evidence.
Luke Murphy, 38, was sentenced to five years for threatening to kill his ex‑partner. He is now to be sentenced again for making harassing phone calls from prison in September and October 2019, in which he threatened to burn her house, smash her head, rip her teeth out, torture her, and butcher her when he gets out. The calls were recorded and presented to the court. Murphy pleaded guilty to harassment on 30 September, 1 and 2 October 2019. He has five previous convictions. The court heard he had two boys with the complainant and that he had previously received a five‑year sentence with two years suspended for the same woman. The prosecution was based on circumstantial evidence and the complainant did not give a statement. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned sentencing until July for a probation report.
Derek Callaghan, 65, a former army officer with a "stellar" career, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 19 January 2022. Gardaí searched his home in Ashfield Grove, Huntstown, Dublin 15, and seized 608 g of cannabis valued at €13,608, €3,110 in cash, drug paraphernalia, a ticklist and a burner phone. Callaghan accepted responsibility for the drugs but denied selling them, insisting the cash was his savings. He also denied that he had sold drugs from his address. He has one prior road‑traffic conviction. His defence counsel, Carol Doherty, highlighted his unblemished record, his army service, his family, and the pressure he faced, and requested that the court consider a non‑custodial sentence. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation later this month.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the jury heard that Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) were accused of murdering 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas on 9 December 2022. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Eoin Lawlor SC, described the use of a hammer as the accused's "modus operandi for conflict resolution" and said the body was disposed of in a field in bleak midwinter. Lawlor said the accused were drug dealers who had a joint enterprise to cause serious harm to Ilyas after he stole their drugs. He alleged that Clejan held a hammer and Doroscan held a knife while beating Ilyas, and that the body was wrapped and carried by the accused to a remote location. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men. Viorel Doroscan pleaded not guilty. Otniel Richardo Clejan pleaded not guilty.
In a High Court case, Nicolae and Florin Mazarache, residents of Lealand Meadows, Clondalkin, appealed a ruling that allowed their prosecution for allegedly breaching Covid‑19 travel restrictions by travelling to Dublin Airport on 17 April 2021. The pair were stopped by a Garda and issued fixed‑payment notices under the Health Act, 1947, which offered a €2,000 fine to avoid prosecution or risk prosecution if unpaid. The notices failed to specify the exact regulation breached, a point the High Court found violated statutory requirements. The Mazaraches chose not to pay the fines and instead sought judicial review, which was dismissed by Ms Justice Nuala Jackson on 17 January 2023. They now appeal to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the District Court lacks jurisdiction to prosecute because the notices were unlawful. Counsel for the State countered that the error does not remove the District Court's authority. The Court of Appeal will reserve judgment.
Jordan Ryan, 28, sold a financed car for €13,700 to a buyer who was unaware of the outstanding debt. Ryan had missed two repayments and had tried unsuccessfully to arrange a payment plan. After the buyer discovered the debt, Ryan paid €2,500 and later an additional €10,000 to the buyer. He pleaded guilty to deception on 9 February 2023. The court noted his addiction, gambling, mental health issues and a personal tragedy but said these did not excuse his conduct. Judge Elva Duffy imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, and ordered Ryan to pay €2,000 to the buyer within six months. The buyer remains €1,200 short of the original purchase price. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
James Lawlor, 44, with 168 prior convictions, stole €3,000 worth of items from the Mater Hospital Foundation a week after his release from prison. He pleaded guilty to burglary on 7 February 2024 and had served three years for a previous burglary. CCTV showed him entering the A&E department, registering as a patient, then later entering the foundation's building and leaving with two bags. The burglary caused €380 in damage and involved three laptops, an iPhone, three headsets and bags, totalling €3,736.50. Lawlor denied involvement but admitted to the CCTV footage. He was arrested on 11 February 2024 and has been in custody since. The court noted his long history of drug use and rehabilitation efforts. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a sentence of three years and nine months, suspending the final nine months for two years on strict conditions, and directed him to be supervised by Probation Services for 12 months after release.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Ricardo Clejan, both accused of the murder of Mahamud Ilyas on December 9, 2022, continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charge. The jury heard evidence that Mr Ilyas died from blunt force trauma to the head, with pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster describing depressed fractures typical of hammer blows. The State alleges the accused beat Mr Ilyas to death following a dispute over a stolen bag of cannabis. In contrast, the accused told gardaí they acted in self-defense after Mr Ilyas entered an apartment armed with a crowbar and threatening to kill them. Doroscan claimed Clejan struck Mr Ilyas with a hammer, while Clejan stated he only pushed Mr Ilyas away. Co-accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of impeding the prosecution, told gardaí he drove the men to a field in Hollystown where he left Mr Ilyas alive in a ditch. The trial continues tomorrow.
Gary Murphy, 40, of Rosemount Park, Dundrum, was sentenced to three months in prison after pleading guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to driving while banned, uninsured and unlicensed on 17 April 2025. He was caught driving his partner's car, which had been parked at his home, on the Green Route in Dundrum. Murphy, who is serving a 10‑year driving ban, chose to drive instead of taking a taxi while his partner was experiencing a medical emergency elsewhere. The court noted his 101 previous convictions, including public order offences, criminal damage, assault, breaches of the Weapons Act, dangerous driving, drink‑driving and driving without insurance, making this his 102nd conviction and third for driving without insurance. He was under probation supervision at the time of the offence, works full‑time as a digger operator, pays rent to his father and supports two children aged one and 20.
In an employment tribunal case, a woman who worked as a company secretary for her partner, an alleged sex‑addicted businessman, was awarded nearly €100,000 after she was dismissed in 2023. She claimed that while on a family holiday she discovered her partner had downloaded Grindr and had seen a message from Escort Ireland on his phone. She told him she would not join a proposed treatment programme and that she intended to separate. He then terminated her employment, stopped her pay, and had her company car towed. The tribunal upheld her claims under the Unfair Dismissals Act, the Terms of Employment (Information) Act and the Organisation of Working Time Act, awarding €63,362 for loss of earnings, €30,000 for loss of the company car, €3,712 for lack of a contract, and €2,000 for working‑time violations, totalling €99,074. The decision was anonymised to protect the identities of the woman's children.
In a Tallaght District Court hearing on 30 April 2025, Christopher Armstrong, 39, was convicted of failing to remain at the scene after striking a pedestrian on Old Bawn Road on 20 December 2024. CCTV showed Armstrong stopping his van, checking on the injured man, and then leaving the scene without providing details. The victim suffered serious injuries, including four broken ribs, a broken nose, 12 stitches, and a broken wrist that required surgery. Armstrong pleaded guilty, admitted the incident, and cooperated fully with the investigation. He was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for three months. The judge noted mitigating factors such as Armstrong's remorse, lack of prior convictions, and his full-time employment, but upheld the conviction due to the seriousness of the injuries and his failure to remain at the scene.
Evan Clarke, 33, borrowed a friend's car and drove it the wrong way into a Circle K car wash on 10 November 2019, causing damage worth €57,408 and writing the facility off. He drove without a licence or insurance, with three passengers in the vehicle. Clarke pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage, one count of driving without insurance and one count of driving without a licence. He has 41 prior convictions, including assault, theft and drug offences. CCTV footage identified him, and a matching fingerprint was found on the car's bonnet. His defence cited significant drug and alcohol addiction, early cannabis use, mental health issues, ADHD and ASD, and supportive parents. The case was adjourned to 21 July for updated reports.
During sentencing of Keith Daly, 31, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Sergeant Wes Kenny read a victim impact statement. Kenny, injured when Daly resisted arrest on Killakee Road, described his finger as forcibly bent and injured, noting a heightened fear and psychological toll. The incident began when Garda Natasha McAleese and Kenny stopped a car at 11.10pm; Daly, a passenger, became agitated, opened the door aggressively, and shouted. A struggle ensued, Kenny was thrown to the ground, and Daly fled. Kenny seized a bag of 9.6g cannabis, valued at €192, and two smaller bags with €3,445 cash. Kenny was treated for his finger injury. Defence counsel apologized, noting 33 of Daly's 55 convictions were juvenile. Judge Orla Crowe called the case unusual, directed a probation report, and acknowledged Daly's efforts to turn his life around. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
A 73‑year‑old former school teacher and convicted rapist was sentenced to an additional five years in prison for indecently assaulting eight boys between 1977 and 1984. He had already been convicted of 118 counts of indecent assault and was serving a 14‑year‑five‑month sentence with an earliest release date in August 2025. The abuse involved inappropriate touching, and in one case included masturbation and oral sex. The victims were aged six to 14 and were taken to various locations, including the school, the teacher's home, and his car. The teacher, who also had a conviction for raping a teenage girl, maintains his innocence. Judge Orla Crowe described his conduct as manipulative, exploitative, persistent and highly predatory, and imposed the extra sentence to reflect the severity of the offences. The judge noted the victims' courage and the profound impact on their lives. The sentence will take effect after the current term expires in August 2025.
Dublin City Council has regained possession of the former home and shop of 1916 Rising leader Tom Clarke on Amiens Street after a group of alleged trespassers vacated the property. The High Court heard that the council had initiated proceedings last November to restrain "persons unknown" from trespassing following reports of unauthorised occupation in May. At the hearing, Gavin Mooney SC represented the council and reported that the alleged trespassers had agreed to vacate the house and had now provided their names. An inspection of the Georgian building, which dates from the 1790s, was previously adjourned due to concerns about a potential stand‑off with occupants. The council, which purchased the run‑down building for €630,000 in 2018, had planned to convert it into a museum and community centre, but works had not begun after a contractor withdrew in 2023.
Jamie Birmingham, 34, of Drumfinn Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, was fined €1,300 by Tallaght District Court after a hearing that found he was driving a van on the N81 on 4 April 2020 without a licence, tax or insurance. Garda Michael Gleeson reported that Birmingham was stopped at 3.30am, failed to produce the required documents at a nominated Garda station, and had 39 prior convictions, including three for driving without insurance, violent behaviour at a Garda station and failure to comply with Garda direction. Earlier this year he received a four‑month suspended sentence and a four‑year driving ban for driving drunk and without insurance, and was convicted of three counts of no insurance at Blanchardstown District Court.
A 42-year-old Donegal man with 33 previous convictions, including multiple road traffic offences, appeared before the Court of Appeal on 29 April regarding his sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. Kevin McMenamin, from Letterkenny, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the offence and was sentenced in January 2024 to 21 months imprisonment and a five-year driving ban. The incident occurred in July 2021 when McMenamin, who was disqualified from driving at the time, broke a red light at Ballsbridge in Dublin and collided with a cyclist in her late sixties. The woman sustained severe injuries including a broken pelvis and leg trauma, requiring nearly five months of hospitalisation. McMenamin was released from open prison in October 2024 after serving nine months. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed for an increased sentence, arguing the original term was inappropriately lenient and characterising McMenamin as someone who drives with disregard for road users' safety. The court reserved judgement, with delivery scheduled for 6 May.
The DPP has appealed against the sentences imposed on Keith McCormack Smith, Jason Ryle, and PJ Lyons following their guilty pleas for arson and other offences in May 2022. The prosecution argues the sentences were unduly lenient for a targeted, pre-meditated attack where a stolen Toyota was rammed into Tip Top Tanning Studio in Carlow, causing over €250,000 in damage while residents slept above. McCormack Smith, who had 24 previous convictions, was sentenced to six years with the final two suspended. Ryle and Lyons, who had 29 and 17 previous convictions respectively, each received five and a half years with the final two suspended. The DPP contends the headline sentence of eight years was too low, citing aggravating factors including the use of accelerant and the defendants being on bail. Defence counsel argued the sentences were appropriate, noting the men were acting on instructions to clear a drug debt and had made full admissions. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, viewed video footage of the incident and reserved its judgment to be delivered at a later date.
In a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing, an 18‑year‑old woman who was raped at age 16 by two boys at Limerick Racecourse described how the attackers stripped her of her innocence. She said she must live with the trauma for the rest of her life but can live with having told the truth. The boys, aged 13 and 15 at the time of the assault, were found guilty of sexual assault and rape; a third boy, aged 15, was found guilty of aiding and abetting the rapes and was acquitted of one count of false imprisonment. The victim's statement highlighted her fear, anxiety and the impact on her family, noting that she had never had sexual intercourse before the attack. The case was adjourned for mention while probation reports are prepared.
Paul Kelleher, 61, of Esker Gate, Mountmellick, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of three counts of sexual assault against three customers of his tattoo and piercing shop, Newfaze Ink, in Portlaoise. The assaults occurred between August and December 2015 and in January 2018. Two victims were receiving piercings when assaulted; the third, a 14‑year‑old girl, was having a piercing cleaned. Kelleher was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He maintains his innocence, has denied the allegations, and said he would change his legal team. The victims expressed profound harm, loss of trust in male professionals, and described the trial as degrading. Kelleher has two prior convictions, including a four‑year sentence for a similar offence. The judge noted his age disparity with the victims and his abuse of a position of trust. The sentence was imposed with a suspended portion and a requirement to attend counselling.
The trial of Viorel Doroscan and Otniel Richardo Clejan, both accused of the murder of Mahamud Ilyas on December 9, 2022, continued at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The jury viewed a Snapchat video allegedly showing the victim lying bloodied on the ground. Detective Inspector Liam Donoghue testified that the clip, posted as a 'Memory' from Mr Doroscan's account, was taken at 2.51pm on the day of the alleged incident in the Verdemont estate. He presented a visual match between the shoe in the video and CCTV footage of Mr Doroscan. Assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster previously attributed the death to blunt force trauma to the head, consistent with hammer blows. Witness Vlady Ndosimau testified to seeing the victim tied up and beaten while Mr Doroscan held a knife and Mr Clejan held a hammer. Co-accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who faces charges of impeding the prosecution, has also pleaded not guilty. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
Visak Rajesh Leela, a 26‑year‑old Indian national, pleaded guilty to attempting to abduct a five‑year‑old boy outside an apartment block in Dublin on 14 September 2024. He claimed he was intoxicated after a party and could not remember why he ran after the child, suggesting he might have thought he knew the children. Garda Laura McDermott testified that Leela had returned to the block after a party, was steady on his feet, and had no alcohol smell, though a doctor later found him intoxicated. CCTV footage showed Leela pulling the boy toward the door and pushing him out. The court, after a probation report assessing Leela as low risk of re‑offending and not a danger to children, imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence on strict conditions. Leela was ordered to leave Ireland within two weeks and not to return for ten years.
Joseph Rafferty, 45, was remanded in custody after appearing in Tallaght District Court on charges related to a car hijacking in Dublin and two robberies in Wicklow over the weekend. He was arrested at 6.15pm on Sunday at Tallaght Garda Station and formally charged by Sergeant Michael Martin. Rafferty was cautioned and made no reply to the charges. The incidents occurred on Saturday, 26 April. At about 7.45pm, a woman was allegedly threatened and forced out of her black Nissan Qashqai at a commercial premises on St Peter's Road in Walkinstown, Dublin 12; Rafferty is charged with hijacking under Section 10 of the Criminal Law Act 1997 and unlawful use of a vehicle under Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. Later that evening, he allegedly attempted to rob a store on the Dublin Road in Bray, threatening cashiers as he left, and is charged with attempted robbery.
Natasha Byrne, 21, was stopped for driving without a licence or insurance on 23 August 2023. She pleaded guilty under the Road Traffic Act 1961. Byrne was accompanied by her father, who had let her test drive to manage her driving anxiety, a decision the judge called "ludicrous." Judge Deirdre Gearty struck out the case, stating the father should have answered questions in court, not Byrne. Byrne has since obtained a learner permit but is not currently driving.
A sous chef at Shanahan's on the Green in Dublin has been awarded nearly €6,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for unpaid wages, notice pay, and holiday entitlements following the restaurant's closure in October 2024. Piotr Fraszczyk, who worked at the restaurant since 2010, claimed he was not given six weeks' notice of termination as required by law, nor was he compensated for accrued annual leave. The adjudicator noted that the employer had initiated a redundancy process, which the chef disputed. In addition to the €5,950 awarded by the WRC, Fraszczyk also received a statutory redundancy payment of €17,160. Separately, the WRC ruled in favor of a culinary arts student, Christian Hyland, who was not paid for work he performed at The Neighbourhood restaurant after completing an internship.
Daire Hardesty, a software developer at Digisure, claimed he and colleagues were unpaid for six months after the company's CFO was forced out, allegedly locking the bank accounts. Staff were told a $30 million balance was frozen and later that anti‑money‑laundering checks delayed payroll. Interim cash of €300‑€1,000 was provided, but salaries never arrived. Hardesty sold a €1,600 camera lens for €1,080 to pay rent, and the firm promised reimbursement but failed to pay. He was placed on temporary layoff on 20 November 2024 and told to "stop being disrespectful." The Workplace Relations Commission found he was not paid from May 2024 until his termination in December 2024. The adjudicator directed Digisure to pay Hardesty €46,664 in gross wages without delay, citing the company's repeated assurances and lack of evidence. The ruling was issued under the Payment of Wages Act 1991.